Computer supported planning of aircraft ground handling personnel

The paper presents a method and algorithms developed to assist in personnel planning. The case of aircraft ground handling personnel is shown in the paper. The proposed method consists of three steps. The first step involves computation of the daily working plan due to the distribution of necessary manpower as a function of airline schedules, traffic characteristics and aircraft characteristics. This step determines the necessary manpower per shift for a known daily manpower distribution and given shift pattern (planners input). The second step consists of designing a weekly plan based on daily (output of step one) and weekly requirements as well as labour regulations and management policy (working hours, free days, etc.). The third step is the design of a monthly working plan by combining weekly plans. Heuristic algorithms are applied wthich are meant for interactive design of the working plans. The method’s application is illustrated by an example from Belgrade Airport.